Romans is such an important book in our understanding of Christian
faith and doctrine. Paul has spent the first eleven chapters of the book presenting
doctrinal truth. Without a clear understanding of our faith, it is impossible
to build a foundation for our lives in Christ. Paul’s usual way of writing
is to present the doctrine and then spend the remaining portion of the writing
exploring ways that our beliefs are to be lived out in everyday living.
Paul makes this transition by using the word “therefore”
(NIV). He is telling us that therefore, or in light of the truth we have seen
in the eleven chapters preceding this verse, how are we going to apply this
truth to our lives? In essence, he is asking, “How, then, shall we live?”
As you listen to this passage, keep in mind that this is the transition point
for the Book of Romans. Our people need us to help them discover the ways
in which biblical truth is internalized and lived out in all of our relationships.
How does doctrine or our faith get worked out at work, school, and the marketplace
and in the neighborhood?
Paul does not start with you and I changing the world, but rather
with you and I consecrating ourselves. Paul also reminds us that the only
appropriate response to what God has done for us through Christ is worship.
All of our responses to God are in essence a part of our spiritual worship.
In light of all that God has done in our lives, the only response appropriate
is one of total worship. The consecrated life is not sought with a sense of
spiritual superiority, but rather in a humble, awe-filled worshipful attitude.
Paul uses the Old Testament idea of sacrifice and gives it new
meaning. No longer are we to offer perfect or unspotted animals for our whole
burnt offerings, but rather we are to offer ourselves completely and totally
to God. The sacrifice that God desires from us is not a dead animal, but a
living fully devoted follower of Christ. Consecrated living is a positive
response to the sacrifice of Christ and His work in our lives.
This text is one that begs to be “heard again for the first
time.” Those of us raised in Wesleyan holiness churches are familiar
with the passage at hand. Many times familiarity causes us to miss the obvious
and fail to grasp the deep significance of what Paul is saying. We must engage
with the main idea of preaching, namely how to we take the truths of Scripture
and apply them in the lives of 21st century hearers? How are we to live out
our faith in this world? This passage is a clarion call for total commitment
in light of God’s commitment to us. As you work through this passage,
immerse yourself in the Old Testament concept of sacrifice. Study the various
kinds of sacrifices and the reasons they were to be offered. There are some
very interesting contrasts and correlatives between the whole burnt offering
and the total commitment required for sanctified, Spirit-filled living. This
is a wonderful place in which to remind our congregations that being consecrated
and sanctified is not an option, but is the normal outcome of hearts overflowing
in praise to God for his mighty works.
As one works through these two verses, one will need to spend
some time understanding Paul’s use of the words conform and transform.
One is stated negatively, “do not conform,” and one is stated positively,
“be transformed.” For the believer, there is pressure from without
and within. The pressure from outside is the pressure to conform to the habits
and attitudes of the world. The counter-pressure is from the inner presence
of the Holy Spirit. The transforming (metamorphosis) power of God is the power
that makes us Christlike. If we have the internal pressure of the Holy Spirit
working in our lives, then we will be able to withstand the outside pressure
that is seeking to get us to conform to society’s patterns.
(For the full manuscript
of this sermon go to www.preachermagazine.org and click on “Sermons”)
As you come to this passage and understand that Paul is calling
for consecrated discipleship, you will want to remind folks that this is the
natural response of Christians. Again, because of the way sacrifice is defined
in our world today, there may be trouble understanding this from the biblical
perspective. I am not given to want to sacrifice. The offering up of myself
to God does not come from some internal need or desire I have to sacrifice,
but rather this desire comes from a worshiping heart that overflows with gratitude
for God’s gracious gift of His Son.
There is a sense in which this consecrated form of living is
the way of affirming and even discovering God’s will in our lives. Paul
tells us that if we offer ourselves as living sacrifices and are no longer
conformed to this world, and we are continually receiving the transforming
and renewing power of Christ, then we will be able to test and approve God’s
will in our lives. This agrees with Paul’s statement in Galatians that
we should “keep in step with the Spirit.”
Preaching our distinguishing doctrine of entire sanctification
from this passage may be a little problematic. There are better passages that
show the need for the infilling of the Holy Spirit as a definite work of grace;
this passage seems to infer this understanding. What this passage does communicate
is that there is a constant need in the lives of believers for consecration.
Consecration is the offering of myself to God wholeheartedly, allowing Him
to work and move in every area of my life. The distinguishing mark of sanctified
living is Christlikeness. This passage describes this beautifully. This is
the passage that was preached on when I entered into the experience of entire
sanctification; therefore, I have a great love and passion for these two verses.
Do not be afraid to ask your people in response to God’s saving grace
in their lives to offer themselves totally and completely to Him. Spirit-filled
living is the only antidote I know that will keep us from conforming to the
patterns of this world.
Be sure to emphasize that the renewing Paul describes is a renewing of our minds. Christ not only came to change our hearts, but to change our minds as well. Many of our people believe that their hearts have been changed; yet their minds and attitudes do not reflect the attitude of Christ. A sanctified mind is to have the mind and attitude of Christ. This aspect of consecrated living must be communicated to our congregations.
